The New York Islanders are facing a potential third straight season of failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs. Their organizational response to this will reveal their commitment to building a competitive team. If they do not miraculously come back from being down 3-0 to Carolina, there will be no excuses to stick with the same group of players. The Islanders need to take this offseason as an opportunity to retool and make necessary changes, even if it means being slightly worse next season.
Several players on the Islanders roster have expiring contracts or are entering the last years of their deals. The team needs to focus on extending young, talented players like Dobson, Romanov, and MacLean to form a strong core for the future. Building a Cup-contending team around players like Barzal, Horvat, and Sorokin should be the long-term goal for the Islanders, rather than prolonged tanking.
Management needs to have difficult conversations about remaking the core of the team, which has been pivotal in the recent success of the Islanders. General manager Lou Lamoriello and head coach Patrick Roy need to work together on restructuring the team. Roy has expressed a desire to work closely with Lamoriello and will likely have input on which players stay and which go, as the team needs to evolve to reflect his coaching style.
The Islanders need to make changes to their roster to play a faster, harder style of game. They must focus on having four lines that can control the puck and enter the zone with skill. Offensively, the team needs to improve across all lines, particularly the third line which struggled to become a cohesive unit. The offseason may mark the end of the Identity Line, consisting of Martin and Clutterbuck, as their contracts expire.
In terms of offseason priorities, the Islanders should consider adding a left-sided defenseman to compete with Adam Pelech for top-four minutes. Additionally, they need to address Sorokin’s struggles, Nelson and Palmieri’s future contracts, and prepare for Dobson’s mega-extension. The team must navigate these issues with the extra cap space expected for the upcoming season. Lamoriello’s status as general manager also raises questions about his willingness to lead the team back to contention at the age of 81.
Avoiding these crucial decisions after past disappointing seasons has not led the Islanders to success. It is clear that changes need to be made within the organization, particularly in terms of player personnel and team strategy. No excuses remain for sticking with the status quo, and it is imperative for the Islanders to begin the rebuilding process this offseason. Unless a miraculous turnaround occurs, the team must acknowledge the need for substantial changes to achieve success in the future.
